South Shore Housing seeks support

Thursday

May 17, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 17, 2007 at 5:16 PM

The high cost of housing is a prime concern for the vast majority of residents across the South Shore. For many, it even presents a barrier to career opportunities and forces some families to leave their hometowns.

For more than 35 years, the South Shore Housing Development Corporation, a regional nonprofit organization based in Kingston, has worked to find solutions to the lack of affordable housing in Plymouth and Bristol counties, with the aid of government and corporate funding. Now the corporation is seeking more public support and private sponsorship of its programs.

Andrea Doty

For more than 35 years, the South Shore Housing Development Corporation, a regional nonprofit organization based in Kingston, has worked to find solutions to the lack of affordable housing in Plymouth and Bristol counties, with the aid of government and corporate funding. Now the corporation is seeking more public support and private sponsorship of its programs.

South Shore Housing is inviting the public to help celebrate some of its accomplishments and honor its contributors at a cocktail party and fundraiser in Brockton Tuesday, May 22. The event will be held at the Fuller Craft Museum, 455 Oak St., from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Proceeds will help support South Shore’s many housing-assistance programs.

“We’ve contacted a series of sponsors to underwrite the event and raise awareness, in the communities, of what we do and what’s needed,” South Shore Housing Executive Director Steve Dubuque said. “We’ve been deficient in telling people who we are and what we do. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, and we need now to reach out and tell folks what we’re doing and gain support. We need community support, both financially and politically. We’re inviting folks to come sponsor the event or to just show up and help celebrate some great achievements.”

The housing corporation manages about $30 million a year, which is distributed throughout its member communities, and has a general operating budget of $3.5 million. Dubuque says most of the funding is provided by the state, although some comes from federal government sources, as well as major corporate sponsors like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Citizens Bank. Newer supporters include Rockland Trust and Sovereign Bank.

“Blue Cross Blue Shield is really a key sponsor for two reasons,” Dubuque said. “They’re not only interested in healthcare but also have a substantial number of employees who need to find housing where they work. They know we’re developing housing that’s affordable.”

The South Shore Housing Corporation has also teamed with Massasoit State College to teach graduates how to leave rent-subsidized housing. Pat Reale and Alice Wallace Moore — the two women who started that program, called CHOICES — will be among those honored at the May 22 event.

Another honoree will be Kathy Splinter, president of Welcome Home Veterans Inc. in New Bedford. Splinter’s nonprofit organization partnered with South Shore Housing to create a 19-unit housing development for formerly homeless veterans.

“It’s being done in such a way that it really allows them to celebrate their identity as veterans,” Dubuque said. “We really have to identify them as people, not as ‘the homeless.’ So we’re bringing two things together: housing and social services. Welcome Home Veterans raised $65,000 toward this effort.”

South Shore Housing works with local housing authorities, manages its own multi-unit rental properties in several towns, in addition to 2,500 housing-choice vouchers, and works with residents, landlords, and town and city officials in need of housing assistance or education. Its Brockton Family Life Center helps parents at risk of losing their children due to lack of housing.